Sweden’s Prime Minister tests positive for covid
Stockholm, Sweden – Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson has tested positive for covid-19, stated her office on Friday, making her the third party leader to suffer from the disease after a meeting earlier this week.
“The Prime Minister has tested positive for covid-19 in a quick test. She follows current recommendations and will carry out her work from home,” press secretary Johan Ekström told AFP via text message.
Ekström said that Andersson felt well “under the circumstances”.
In addition to Andersson, Per Bolund – who leads the Green Party together with Marta Stenevi – and Center leader Annie Loof have also been affected by the disease after a party leader meeting on Wednesday.
The Nordic country with 10.3 million currently registers a record number of infections, with a peak of 25,567 cases on Thursday.
Earlier this week, Sweden announced a number of new virus restrictions, including early closures for bars and restaurants and a ceiling of 500 people at public gatherings.
The health authorities have warned that the situation for health care is already “very strained”.
Sweden made headlines in the early days of the pandemic when, unlike most other countries, it did not introduce any form of closure or school closure.
Instead, it adopted a softer approach and recommended social distancing, homework and only limited use of face masks.
However, it banned visits to nursing homes, limited the number of people allowed to attend public gatherings and limited opening hours in bars and restaurants.
Sweden’s death toll of around 15,300 is around the European average.
But it is significantly higher than in the neighboring countries Norway, Finland and Denmark, which initially provoked heated debate about the Swedish strategy.
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